معرفی
Kimberly McArthur is an Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at Southwestern University, where she investigates neural circuit development and function using larval zebrafish as a model organism. Her research integrates electrophysiology, neuronal tracing, calcium imaging, and behavioral analysis to address fundamental questions about synaptic partner selection, circuit resilience, and functional development.
- Ph.D. in Neuroscience (2011), Washington University in St. Louis
- B.A. in Biology (2004), Gustavus Adolphus College
Her research focuses on neuroscience and developmental biology, particularly how neurons in the vertebrate hindbrain establish and maintain functional synaptic connections. Recent work in Trends in Neurosciences and the Journal of Comparative Neurology highlights her contributions to understanding dendrite topography and motor neuron input specificity.
McArthur’s students have won awards at the Texas Academy of Sciences, including first-place undergraduate presentations on topics like zebrafish axon pathfinding and pipefish male pregnancy anatomy. She is supported by grants such as the Sam Taylor Fellowship and NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA awards.
She teaches courses on developmental biology, neurobiology, and scientific thinking, emphasizing critical analysis of primary literature and experimental design. Her laboratory at Southwestern University explores adaptive self-organization in neural systems and the interplay between development and evolution.
